Islanders aim to end three-year playoff drought as training camp approaches
The New York Islanders must halt a three-year stretch without a postseason berth in 2026-27, entering camp with ample cap space and few offseason additions.
As the Islanders prepare to open training camp in less than a month, the organization faces pressure to prevent a playoff drought from reaching three years. Head coach Pete DeBoer and the squad believe they possess the talent needed to qualify for the postseason. The front office spent the offseason largely on preserving financial flexibility, leaving the team with a large amount of salary-cap space for the following summer.
A promising group of prospects, now a year further along in their development, will be expected to contribute. The only NHL players added were Matias Maccelli and Vitek Vanecek, each on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, general manager Mathieu Darche’s most significant move was his decision to wait rather than make aggressive acquisitions.
Why it matters
Islanders fans need to know whether the team can finally return to the playoffs after years of missing out.
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